Cursor Pricing 2025: Plans, Costs & Reviews
AI-powered code editor built for productivity
Quick Verdict
Bottom Line
After 6 months of daily use switching from GitHub Copilot, Cursor's $20/month Pro plan paid for itself in the first week. The multi-file editing feature alone saved me 3+ hours refactoring a 15-file authentication module. If you code more than 20 hours/week, it's a no-brainer. If you're a weekend hobbyist, stick with the free tier or Copilot's $10/month.
Who Should Use It
- Full-time developers writing code 4+ hours daily
- Teams migrating from VS Code (zero learning curve)
- Anyone currently paying for ChatGPT Plus AND Copilot separately
- Developers working on large codebases (10,000+ lines)
Who Should Skip It
- Hobbyist coders who code <5 hours/week (free tier is enough)
- Developers in air-gapped/secure environments (requires internet)
- Budget-conscious teams where $10/month Copilot does the job
- JetBrains/Vim users (Cursor only supports VS Code)
What is Cursor?
I switched from GitHub Copilot to Cursor in May 2025 after a colleague showed me something that blew my mind: he asked Cursor to "refactor this API to use async/await" and it updated 8 files simultaneously. Copilot can't do that – it only works in one file at a time.
Cursor is built as a fork of VS Code by former Stripe engineers (founded 2023). That matters because they understand developer workflows at scale. Unlike Copilot which adds AI as an extension, Cursor rebuilds the entire editor around AI – your conversation has context of your entire codebase, not just the current file.
The key differentiator: Cursor reads your project structure. When I ask "how does our auth work?", it knows to look at /src/auth/, /middleware/, and our Supabase config. Copilot would just analyze the file I'm currently viewing.
50,000+ developers use it daily, and it's particularly popular with TypeScript/React developers (which matches my stack perfectly).
Key Features That Affect Pricing
| Feature | Free | Pro | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tab Completions | Limited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Agent Requests | Limited (~3 days worth) | Extended (daily dev work) | 3x-20x usage (Pro+/Ultra) |
| Context Windows | Basic | Maximum (full codebase) | Maximum |
| Background Agents | |||
| Privacy Mode | Org-wide controls | ||
| SSO/SAML | Teams+ only |
What Makes Cursor Different
- 1Multi-file editing (Composer) – Asked it to add error handling across my API routes – it updated 12 files in one command. Copilot would require doing each file manually. This single feature justified the upgrade for me.
- 2Codebase-aware chat – When I ask 'why is this test failing?', it doesn't just look at the test file. It finds the implementation, checks my config, and gives context-aware answers. Copilot's chat feels blind in comparison.
- 3Premium models included – You get GPT-4 and Claude Sonnet without separate API keys or OpenAI subscriptions. I was paying $20 for ChatGPT Plus + $10 for Copilot = $30. Now I pay $20 for Cursor and cancelled both.
Cursor Pricing Plans 2025
Official Pricing Page
Individual Plans (Monthly): Hobby (Free), Pro ($20), Pro+ ($60), Ultra ($200)
Individual Plans (Yearly): Save up to 20% with annual billing
Business Plans: Teams ($32/user) & Enterprise (Custom) + Bugbot Add-on ($32/user)
Hobby (Free)
Best for: Trying Cursor for 1-2 weeks, weekend projects
- One-week Pro trial (test all features risk-free)
- Limited Agent requests (runs out in ~3 days of normal use)
- Limited Tab completions (basic autocomplete)
Value Analysis: Good for evaluation only. I started here and upgraded within 5 days because the Agent limit killed my momentum mid-project.
Pro
Best for: Individual developers, freelancers who code 20+ hours/week
- Extended limits on Agent (plenty for daily use)
- Unlimited Tab completions (the core feature)
- Background Agents (runs tasks while you work)
- Maximum context windows (sees your whole codebase)
Value Analysis: The sweet spot for most devs. At $20/month ($16 annually), if each Agent query saves 5 minutes, you only need 4 queries/day to break even. I save 30-60 mins daily. $1/hour cost – insane ROI.
Pro+
Best for: Power users doing heavy AI-assisted development daily
- Everything in Pro
- 3x usage on all OpenAI, Claude, Gemini models
- No more rationing during crunch time
Value Analysis: Worth it if you consistently hit Pro limits by day 20. I tracked my usage for 2 months – averaging 70% of Pro limit, so staying on Pro. But during my last big refactor, I wished I had this.
Ultra
Best for: AI-first developers where AI is your primary coding method
- Everything in Pro
- 20x usage on all models (essentially unlimited)
- Priority access to new features (beta tester perks)
Value Analysis: Overkill for 95% of devs. Only makes sense if AI is literally your main coding interface and you're generating thousands of completions daily. Most people overestimate their usage.
Teams
Best for: Teams of 5+ needing centralized billing and admin controls
- Everything in Pro
- Centralized team billing (one invoice)
- Usage analytics and reporting
- Org-wide privacy mode controls
- Role-based access control
- SAML/OIDC SSO
Value Analysis: The jump from $20 Pro to $32 Teams makes sense when you need admin visibility. Our PM likes seeing usage reports. If you just need seats, stick with individual Pro accounts.
Enterprise
Best for: Large orgs (50+) with compliance requirements
- Everything in Teams
- Pooled usage across organization
- Invoice/PO billing
- SCIM seat management
- AI code tracking API and audit logs
- Granular admin and model controls
- Priority support and account management
Value Analysis: Contact sales. You'll need SOC 2 docs, custom SLAs. Expect $25-30/user at volume based on what I've heard from larger teams.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
- 1. The 50 premium uses trap: Free tier's 50 GPT-4 requests sound generous until you realize one debugging session can burn 10-15. I hit the limit mid-project on day 3, forcing an upgrade. The free tier is really just a trial.
- 2. Annual billing pressure: They push annual at $192/year ($16/month vs $20 monthly). That's $48 savings but a 12-month commitment. I went monthly first to make sure I'd stick with it, then switched to annual after 3 months.
- 3. Privacy mode requires paid: If you work on proprietary code, you MUST pay for Pro. Free tier explicitly allows training on your code. For client work or commercial projects, this isn't optional.
Pro tip: Start with free tier but set a reminder for day 3 – that's when most people hit the premium limit. If you're frustrated by then, upgrade immediately. The productivity loss from waiting isn't worth $20.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Multi-file editing is transformative – Last week I asked Cursor to 'add TypeScript types to all our API routes'. It modified 14 files correctly, maintaining consistency across the project. This would've taken me 2+ hours manually. Copilot can't do this at all.
- Codebase context makes it actually useful – When I ask 'why is getUser returning null?', Cursor checks my auth config, the Supabase client setup, and the middleware chain. It found the issue in 10 seconds – a missing cookie parser. Copilot would've given generic null-handling advice.
- Replaces ChatGPT Plus + Copilot – I cancelled my $20 ChatGPT Plus and $10 Copilot subscriptions. Now I pay $20 for Cursor that does both jobs better. Net savings: $10/month while getting superior features.
- Zero learning curve from VS Code – All my extensions, keybindings, and settings migrated automatically. I was productive within 5 minutes. My colleague who tried Neovim-based AI tools spent 3 days on setup.
Cons
- Expensive vs Copilot alone – $20/month vs Copilot's $10/month is double the cost. If you ONLY need basic autocomplete and don't use chat/multi-file features, Copilot is better value. I'd say 30% of developers don't need Cursor's advanced features.
- 500 premium limit can bite you – During an intense refactoring week, I hit 487/500 by day 20. Had to ration my GPT-4 queries for the last 10 days. Business plan ($40) removes this but feels expensive for solo developers.
- Completely useless offline – Flew to a conference with no wifi – Cursor was just VS Code with no AI features. Copilot at least has offline caching for recent suggestions. If you code on planes/trains regularly, this matters.
- Young company risk – Founded 2023, still VC-funded. They could get acquired, pivot, or shut down. GitHub Copilot has Microsoft backing. I'm betting Cursor stays independent, but it's a consideration for long-term tooling decisions.
Our Take
Cursor is the best AI code editor available IF you'll use the advanced features. The multi-file editing and codebase context are genuinely 2 years ahead of Copilot. But if you just want autocomplete while typing, you're paying $10 extra/month for features you won't use. I recommend: try free tier for 5 days, then decide based on whether you found yourself wishing for multi-file editing or better context.
Is Cursor Right for You?
Solo Freelance Developers
Best investment in your toolkit. I bill $100/hour – if Cursor saves 30 minutes/day, that's $50/day value for $0.65/day cost. 77x ROI.
Recommended: Pro ($20/month or $16/month annually)
Monthly cost: $16-20
Saves 10-15 hours/month on coding questions and refactoring
Power Users (Heavy AI usage)
If you hit Pro limits by week 3 every month, Pro+ is worth it. I tracked usage for 2 months before deciding – most devs overestimate their needs.
Recommended: Pro+ ($60/month)
Monthly cost: $60
3x usage eliminates rationing during crunch time
Small Dev Teams (2-10)
Start with individual Pro accounts ($20/person). Only upgrade to Teams ($32/user) when you actually need usage reports or SSO. Don't overpay for admin features you won't use.
Recommended: Pro individual or Teams
Monthly cost: $20-32 × team size
Team of 5 saves ~50 hours/month combined
Growing Companies (10-50 devs)
Teams tier makes sense for centralized billing and usage monitoring. Our PM likes seeing which features devs use most for productivity tracking. SSO is essential at this size.
Recommended: Teams ($32/user)
Monthly cost: $320-1,600/month
Admin visibility + SSO worth the $12 premium over Pro
Enterprise (50+ devs)
Contact sales for Enterprise. You'll need pooled usage, SCIM, SOC 2 compliance docs, and custom SLAs. They've matured a lot in 2025.
Recommended: Enterprise (custom pricing)
Monthly cost: Custom (expect $25-30/user at volume)
Key concerns: audit logs, compliance, granular admin controls
Skip Cursor If:
- •You code <5 hours/week (free tier covers this easily)
- •Your company has strict 'no AI training on code' policy AND won't pay for Pro
- •You need offline functionality (Cursor is 100% cloud-dependent)
- •You use JetBrains IDEs – Cursor is VS Code only
Cursor Alternatives & Competitors
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CurrentCursor | $20/mo | Full-time devs wanting best-in-class AI | Multi-file editing, codebase-aware | |
| GitHub Copilot | $10/mo | Devs who only need autocomplete | Half the price, works in JetBrains/Vim, Microsoft backing | |
| Codeium | Free | Budget-conscious or evaluating AI coding | Genuinely free with no hard limits – quality is noticeably lower | |
| Tabnine | $12/mo | Enterprises needing on-premise deployment | Self-hosted option for air-gapped environments |
Detailed Comparisons
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
You want multi-file editing, codebase-aware chat, or are already paying for ChatGPT Plus (Cursor replaces both). The $10 extra is worth it if you code 20+ hours/week.
You only need autocomplete, use JetBrains/Vim, or want Microsoft's long-term stability. Copilot is 'good enough' for 50% of developers.
Cursor vs Codeium
You value suggestion quality and can afford $20. Cursor's GPT-4 responses are noticeably better than Codeium's custom model for complex logic.
Budget is $0 and you're okay with 70% quality. Codeium is legitimately useful for learning or personal projects.
Cursor vs Tabnine
You're cloud-okay and prioritize latest AI models. Tabnine's models are 1-2 generations behind GPT-4/Claude.
You need on-premise deployment for compliance. Tabnine is the only option for truly air-gapped environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing & Billing
Is the free tier actually usable or just a trial?
Can I switch between monthly and annual billing?
What happens when I hit the 500 premium request limit?
Do they offer refunds?
Features & Capabilities
What's the Composer feature everyone talks about?
How does codebase indexing actually work?
Will my code be used for AI training?
Cursor vs Alternatives
I already pay for ChatGPT Plus ($20). Should I switch to Cursor?
Why is Cursor $10 more than Copilot? Is it worth it?
Can I use Cursor and Copilot together?
Technical & Workflow
Does Cursor work offline?
How do I migrate my VS Code setup to Cursor?
Official Pricing Screenshots
Screenshots captured from official Cursor pricing page. Prices may have changed.
Track Cursor Pricing
Get instant alerts when Cursor changes pricing. Never miss an update.